ICRC News 21 / 08-Jun-00

** SHORT MENU....

Solomon Islands: Red Cross responds to Guadalcanal crisis:
Two ICRC delegates who were already on the spot are working with the
Solomon Islands Red Cross to address the humanitarian needs arising from
the upsurge of violence between the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) and the
Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM) around Honiara airport on the island of
Guadalcanal.

Malawi: ICRC aiding unaccompanied children:
It has been six years since 17-year-old Eric Mulinda (not his real name)
last saw a member of his family. Eric fled the genocide in Rwanda in 1994,
after seeing his father being killed and losing track of his brother.

Mozambique: After the floods - reuniting families:
Thirty-two volunteers from the Mozambique Red Cross Society are starting to
register unaccompanied children separated from their families when cyclone
Eline hit the country in February.

Nagorny Karabakh: Children learn through puppet shows:
During the month of May, the ICRC's mine-awareness team in Nagorny Karabakh
toured the territory's towns and villages with a puppet show designed to
alert children to the dangers of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).



** STORIES IN FULL...

Solomon Islands
Red Cross responds to Guadalcanal crisis

Two ICRC delegates who were already on the spot are working with the
Solomon Islands Red Cross to address the humanitarian needs arising from
the upsurge of violence between the Malaitan Eagle Force (MEF) and the
Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM) around Honiara airport on the island of
Guadalcanal.

On 7 June the delegates visited the Honiara prison, where about a hundred
people are currently being held. Detainees registered during the events of
last year have been receiving regular visits. The ICRC is now in the
process of registering the remaining inmates, including common-law
detainees, because of the threat to their safety from unidentified armed
men who gained access to the compound. Steps are also being taken to ensure
that medical care is given to those who need it.

Armed men claiming to belong to the MEF have been going into the Honiara
hospital to intimidate staff and look for patients of Gwale origin. The
National Red Cross Society is therefore registering all patients and staff
for their own protection. In discussions held on the subject with an MEF
spokesman, the acting Commissioner of Police and commanders of armed
groups, they all agreed to issue instructions that no armed men be allowed
into the hospital.

Following discussions with both parties, Red Cross personnel were able to
go on 8 June to the area where there had been fighting the previous day to
assess humanitarian needs. People met on the spot could not confirm that
there had been any casualties.

A New Zealand Red Cross nurse is standing by to join the team in Honiara as
soon as travel is possible.

Since 5 June, the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation has been airing
Red Cross radio spots urging combatants to respect the civilian population.


Further information: Thomas Gurtner, ICRC Manila, tel. ++632 892 8901


Malawi
ICRC aiding unaccompanied children

It has been six years since 17-year-old Eric Mulinda (not his real name)
last saw a member of his family. Eric fled the genocide in Rwanda in 1994,
after seeing his father being killed and losing track of his brother. He
has been searching for his brother ever since. Eric's story is one of
tragedy and perseverance. He first sought refuge from the carnage in what
is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He moved on in 1995 when he
heard that his brother might be in Nairobi. On arrival in the Kenyan
capital he was told that his brother had left. Eric spent the next five
years in Kenya. Finally he learned that his brother had been seen in
Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi. Eric travelled the 1,500 km on foot and by
hitching lifts where he could. The journey took him three months, and he
arrived in the camp only to discover that his brother had indeed been there
but had left a few months earlier for either France or Belgium.

Eric's story is typical of the loss, isolation and break-up of families
that are among the most devastating consequences of war. Faced with
challenges such as these, the ICRC is pursuing its work to trace missing
persons and reunite families. Last week, delegates went to the Dzaleka camp
and, in conjunction with the Malawi Red Cross Society, registered 15
unaccompanied children, Eric among them. With Red Cross help, perhaps he
will yet be reunited with his brother.

Further information: Chris Bowers, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 4122 730 20 61


Mozambique
After the floods - reuniting families

Thirty-two volunteers from the Mozambique Red Cross Society are starting to
register unaccompanied children separated from their families when cyclone
Eline hit the country in February. They were trained by the ICRC in the
south-eastern Sofala province in techniques that they will use in an
attempt to trace the children's parents. Travel in the battered province is
still difficult, however, and with strong winds and rains continuing to
pound the country there has been further widespread destruction of homes
and livelihoods, and considerable loss of life. Diseases such as cholera
and malaria now threaten the survivors.

One of the most tragic consequences of the floods has been the break-up of
families. At least 200 children have become separated from their parents
and are now unsure of the whereabouts of their families, or even whether
they are still alive.

Further information: Chris Bowers, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 4122 730 20 61


Nagorny Karabakh
Children learn through puppet shows

During the month of May, the ICRC's mine-awareness team in Nagorny Karabakh
toured the territory's towns and villages with a puppet show designed to
alert children to the dangers of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).

Children living in areas infested by mines and UXO usually know where these
deadly weapons are lying and have been told what to do if they come across
one. The idea of the show is to teach them how to react in their everyday
lives. According to Laurence Desvignes, head of the mine-awareness unit at
ICRC headquarters in Geneva, "the real challenge is to deliver the right
message to children without arousing their curiosity to such an extent that
they will go looking for mines or UXO, and without laying down prohibitions
that they may be tempted to disobey".

All over the world, puppets appeal to children and have proved quite
effective in conveying serious messages to young audiences. "Rather than
imposing rules, the actors and puppets have succeeded in focusing the
children's attention on the risks involved", added Laurence Desvignes.
Indeed, the audiences are quickly drawn into the play and take an active
part, identifying with the scenario and absorbing essential information
while having fun. As they shout out to the characters what not to do and
how to behave, they are actually demonstrating that they are learning.

The performances, organized by the ICRC with the cooperation of the Nagorny
Karabakh Ministry of Education, have been attended by over 7,200 children
and some 700 teachers in the region. Follow-up activities include
discussions with teachers on the information that needs to be given to
pupils and how this should be done. Furthermore, 75 teachers have been
selected for training in carrying out mine-awareness programmes in schools.

One thing is clear: a sustained effort is needed to maintain a high level
of awareness among children of the dangers of mines and UXO. Together with
farmers, children are among the groups most at risk in affected areas - and
what better way is there of learning than to watch a puppet show?

Further information: Suzanne Berger, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 4122 730 2307
Laurence Desvignes, ICRC Geneva, tel. ++ 4122 730 2172


For any information you may need on the weekend of 10-11 June or on Monday
12 June (holiday) please call the press officer on duty Juan Martinez: 41
79 217 32 17